By Abdul-Rahman Al Sheha
Worship is obligatory upon every Muslim who is mentally sane and has reached the age of puberty. Performing the five pillars of Islam is a means to enter Jannah (Paradise) after receiving the Mercy of Allah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) once said to a Bedouin who came and asked:
“‘O Messenger of Allah, tell me what Allah has obligated upon me in terms of the prayer.’ He replied, ‘The five (daily) prayers, except if you wish to perform some voluntary ones.’ He asked, ‘Tell me what Allah has obligated upon me in terms of the fasting.’ He replied, ‘The month of Ramadan, except if you wish to perform some voluntary ones.’ He said, ‘Tell me what Allah has obligated upon me in terms of Zakah.’ (The narrator) said ‘So the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) informed him of the legislations of Islam.’ The Bedouin said, ‘By Him who has honored you, I will not do any voluntary acts, and I will not leave anything of what Allah has ordered me.’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘He has succeeded (or, ‘He will enter Jannah’) if he is saying the truth.’” (Al-Bukhari)
Individual Effects of Worship
1- The believers will achieve happiness and success in the life of this world as well as the Hereafter. Allah (Exalted be He) says:
Indeed whosoever purifies himself shall achieve success, (as well as he who) remembers (glorifies) the Name of his Lord, and prays. (Al-A`la 87:14-15)
2- Physical and spiritual strength which results when one amiably and privately converses with Allah. Allah says:
Truly, Allah is with those who fear Him (keep their duty unto Him), and those who are muhsinoon (good-doers). (An-Nahl 16:128)
3- The Help of Allah and establishing His believing slaves’ authority on the earth. Allah says:
Verily, Allah will help those who help His (Cause). Truly, Allah is All-Strong, All-Mighty. Those (Muslim rulers) who, if We give them power in the land, (they) order the establishment of the Salah, the paying of the Zakah, and they enjoin all good, and forbid all evil (i.e. they make the Qur`an as the law of their country in all the spheres of life). And with Allah rests the end of (all) matters (of creatures). (Al-Hajj 22:40-41)
Social Effects of Worship
4- The building of ties of brotherhood, cooperation, bonding, and security between the individuals in an Islamic society. Allah says:
The believers, men and women, are awliya’ (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another, they enjoin all good, and forbid from all evil; they establish the Salaah and give the Zakah, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will have His Mercy on them. Surely Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise. (At-Tawbah 9:71)
5- The guidance of Allah and the success which is only granted by Him:
O you who believe! If you obey and fear Allah, He will grant you Furqaan (a criterion to judge between right and wrong),and will expiate for you your sins, and forgive you. (Al-Anfal 8:29)
6- An abundance of provision from Allah and way out of hardship. Allah says:
And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. (At-Talaq 65:2-3)
7- A multiplication of reward and expiation of sins. Allah says:
And whosoever believes in Allah and performs righteous good deeds, He will remit from him his sins, and will admit him to Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise) to dwell therein forever, that will be the great success. (At-Taghabun 64:9)
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The article is an excerpt from the author’s “How to Become a Muslim”.